Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zoe’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Zoe’, characterized by its compact and mounding plant habit; sturdy and strong plants; vigorous growth habit and moderate to rapid growth rate; freely branching habit; green and pale yellow green variegated leaves; light red-colored flowers with yellow-colored centers and dark-colored stripes; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ZOE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida, typically grown as a container-type garden Alstroemeria and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Zoe’.

The new Alstroemeria plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Tara’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,722. The new Alstroemeria plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor on a single plant within a population of plants of ‘Tara’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Sussex, United Kingdom in 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Alstroemeria plant by in vitro rhizogenesis in a controlled greenhouse environment in Roelofarendsveen, The Netherlands since 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Zoe’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Zoe’ as a new and distinct Alstroemeria plant:

-   -   1. Compact and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Sturdy and strong plants.     -   3. Vigorous growth habit and moderate to rapid growth rate.     -   4. Freely branching habit.     -   5. Green and pale yellow green variegated leaves.     -   6. Light red-colored flowers with yellow-colored centers and         dark-colored stripes.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the mutation parent, ‘Tara’. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ primarily from plants of ‘Tara’ in leaf color as plants of ‘Tara’ have non-variegated leaves. In addition, plants of the new Alstroemeria have narrower leaves than plants of ‘Tara’.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Davina’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,703. In side-by-side comparisons, The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of ‘Davina’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria have smaller flowers than         plants of ‘Davina’.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and ‘Davina’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘Davina’ have salmon pink and yellow-colored         flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Alstroemeria plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Alstroemeria plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Zoe’ grown in container.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘Zoe’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of typical leaves of ‘Zoe’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown during the spring in four-liter containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial container-type Alstroemeria production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 18° C. and night temperatures averaged 8° C. Plants were 24 weeks old when the photographs were taken and 32 weeks old when the detailed description was taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Zoe’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Alstroemeria     hybrida ‘Tara’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,722. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By in vitro rhizogenesis.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy; close to 155B             to 155C in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; dense.         -   Rhizome description.—Shape: Elongate; rounded. Length: About             1 cm to 5 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm to 15 mm. Texture and             luster: Smooth; matte. Color: Close to 158A to 158D. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Perennial garden plant; compact and             mounded plant habit; freely branching habit, bushy             appearance; sturdy and strong plants; vigorous growth habit;             moderate to rapid growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil to level to top of foliar plane.—About 25             cm.         -   Plant height, soil to level to top of floral plane.—About 30             cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 27 cm to 35 cm. -   Stem description:     -   -   Aspect.—Mostly upright.         -   Internode length.—About 0.5 cm to 3 cm.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong, sturdy.         -   Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; matte.         -   Color, when developing.—Close to 144B to 144D.         -   Color, fully developed.—Close to 144B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; below the peduncle, arranged in a             single whorl; leaves sessile.         -   Length.—About 7 cm to 9 cm.         -   Width.—About 3 cm to 3.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Narrowly ovate to lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute to acuminate.         -   Base.—Rounded with attenuate tendencies.         -   Margin.—Entire; undulate.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             moderately glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Rough, glabrous; matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel/pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Centers, close to             144B to 144C; surrounding the centers and towards the             margins, close to 13 8A. Developing leaves, lower surface:             Centers, close to 144B to 144C; surrounding the centers and             towards the margins, close to 138B. Fully developed leaves,             upper surface: Centers, close to 145C to 145D; surrounding             the centers and towards the margins, close to 137A;             venation, similar to lamina colors. Fully developed leaves,             lower surface: Centers, close to 145C to 145D; surrounding             the centers and towards the margins, close to 137B;             venation, similar to lamina colors. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single cup-shaped flowers arranged in             compound umbels; flowers face mostly outwardly; moderately             freely flowering habit with about three to four flowers             developing per inflorescence and about 20 to 100 flowers             developing per plant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous from May to             September in The Netherlands; early-flowering habit, plants             begin flowering about 12 to 16 weeks after stem initiation.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About one to three weeks,             longevity is temperature-dependent; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm. Diameter: About             1 cm to 2 cm. Shape: Narrowly ovoid. Texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 46A to 46B.         -   Umbel height.—About 7 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 7 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4 cm to 6 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 3.5 cm to 4 cm.         -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each             whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Size, inner             perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 4.5 cm. Width,             lateral segments: About 1.4 cm. Length, median segment:             About 4.2 cm. Width, median segment: About 1.3 cm. Size,             outer perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 4 cm to             6 cm. Width, lateral segments: About 3 cm to 4 cm. Length,             median segment: About 4 cm to 6 cm. Width, median segment:             About 3 cm to 4 cm. Shape, inner perianth, lateral and             median segments: Lanceolate. Shape, outer perianth, lateral             and median segments: Obovate. Apex, inner perianth, lateral             and median segments: Acute. Apex, outer perianth, lateral             and median segments: Emarginate, wishbone-shaped. Base,             inner perianth, lateral and median segments: Attenuate.             Base, outer perianth, lateral and median segments: Cuneate.             Margin, inner perianth, lateral and median segments: Entire.             Proximally, entire; distally, finely serrate. Margin, outer             perianth, lateral and median segments: Proximally, entire;             distally, finely serrate. Texture and luster, inner and             outer perianths, lateral and median segments: Smooth,             glabrous; matte, dull. Color, inner perianth, lateral             segments: When opening, upper surface: Distally, close to             47B to 47C; proximally, close to 13A to 13D; stripes, close             to 202A. When opening, lower surface: Distally, close to 50B             to 50C; proximally, close to 12A to 12D. Fully opened, upper             surface: Distally, close to 47A to 47B; proximally, close to             13A to 13B; stripes, close to 202A; colors becoming closer             to 47A and 13A with development. Fully opened, lower             surface: Distally, close to 50A to 50B; proximally, close to             12A to 12B; colors becoming closer to 50A and 12A with             development. Color, inner perianth, median segment: When             opening, upper surface: Distally, close to 47B to 47C;             proximally, close to 13A to 13D; stripes, close to 202A.             When opening, lower surface: Distally, close to 50B to 50C;             proximally, close to 12A to 12D. Fully opened, upper             surface: Distally, close to 47A to 47B; proximally, close to             13A to 13B; stripes, close to 202A; colors becoming closer             to 47A and 13A with development. Fully opened, lower             surface: Distally, close to 50A to 50B; proximally, close to             12A to 12B; color becoming closer to 50A and 12A with             development. Color, outer perianth, lateral and median             segments: When opening, upper surface: Close to 47B to 47C.             When opening, lower surface: Close to 50B to 50C. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 47A to 47B; color becoming             closer to 47A with development. Fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 50A to 50B; color becoming closer to 50A with             development.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.4 cm to 2.4 cm. Diameter: About             2.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Erect to about 40° from             vertical. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144C to 144D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.             Filament length: About 4 cm. Filament color: Close to 50A to             50B. Anther size: About 1.5 cm by 5 cm. Anther shape: Oval.             Anther color: Close to 13A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen             color: Close to 162A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.             Pistil length: About 3 cm. Style length: About 2.5 cm. Style             color: Close to 56A to 56C. Stigma shape: Tri-parted. Stigma             diameter: About 1.5 cm. Stigma color: Close to 56A to 56C.             Ovary color: Close to 56A to 56C.         -   Fruits.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Texture:             Smooth. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Seeds.—To date, seed development has not been observed on             plants of the new Alstroemeria. -   Disease & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Alstroemeria     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Alstroemeria plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been     observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain     and temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 30° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zoe’ as illustrated and described. 